Monday, April 9, 2012

Angst Initiate: John on The Fades

Anyone watch The Fades? It's this British series that had one six episode season but hasn't yet been renewed for a second. Or - you know - the equivalent to all those words in British TV lingo. I started watching it almost entirely because Joe Dempsie was involved (although I later learned it was created by a former Skins writer and includes several Skins alum.)

The show focuses on the struggle between a group of "Angelics" who can see the dead spirits that are trapped on Earth, the "Fades." The Fades are gaining power and becoming corporeal (or...more corporeal?) and they're sort of douchey about it. Our lead character, Paul, is a super-duper Angelic who is super-duper important in preventing the end of the world. Frankly, I think I've summed that up quite nicely because the first few episodes are a big what-the-hell-is-going-on.

Anywho - Paul is pretty angsty in his own right. In the best episode of the season, he looked like this:

Iain De Caestecker as Paul on The Fades S01E04

And maybe I'll eventually get to angst reporting on Paul - but today I'd rather talk about dear Joe Dempsie. On The Fades, he plays John, the leader of the Fade rebellion, so to speak. Basically, he's the baddie. But he's a lovely baddie with a fairly angsty backstory.

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

When he first shows up, he's naked and twitchy and vomiting up tar. He can't talk and he's in pretty bad shape. But then he eats a few people and he starts feeling better.

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

He ventures over to the hospital in which Paul lays dying. He vomits up some more tar and tells his story. He died during WWII and was one of the earliest Fades to be prevented from ascending. He spent years pining for his wife who remarried a man who beat her and had some ungrateful children. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she slit her wrists. John laid down on the bathroom floor beneath her bleeding wrists. That blood taught him that eating people would allow him to regenerate.

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

Joe Dempsie as John The Fade on The Fades

He's a charming villain with a legitimate gripe against The Angelics. In the final two episodes, he's straight out evil - and it's fun to watch. More on those episodes later. Happy Monday!